Leading Major Campaigns
How Boards Can Drive Capital Campaign and Major Gift Success
When it comes to capital campaigns and major gifts, your board members are more than just supporters—they’re your nonprofit’s most powerful fundraising champions. A well-prepared board can open doors to transformational gifts, build donor trust, and provide the leadership necessary for a campaign to succeed. But how do you ensure your board is fully engaged and ready to lead?
Why Board Engagement Matters in Major Campaigns
A capital campaign or major gift initiative is a high-stakes effort that requires strategic vision, careful planning, and dedicated leadership. Board members play a crucial role in:
Setting the vision and goals for the campaign.
Making leadership gifts to inspire confidence among other donors.
Connecting the nonprofit with key prospects in their networks.
Serving as campaign ambassadors, helping to tell the story and generate enthusiasm.
When board members are actively engaged, campaigns gain credibility and momentum, making it easier to attract high-level donors.
Step 1: Educate Your Board on Their Role in Fundraising
Many board members hesitate to participate in fundraising because they feel unprepared or uncomfortable asking for money. The solution? Training and education.
Provide board members with:
Workshops on donor cultivation and solicitation.
Role-playing exercises to build confidence in making asks.
Clear expectations for their fundraising responsibilities.
At TRANSCEND Advancement, we offer tailored board fundraising training to equip your team with the skills and confidence needed to secure major gifts.
Step 2: Lead by Example with Board Giving
Board members should be among the first donors to a major campaign. Their leadership gifts set the tone for the rest of the donor community. A strong 100% participation rate from the board shows commitment and encourages others to give.
Best practices include:
Making personally meaningful gifts based on individual capacity.
Leveraging their influence to encourage others to contribute.
Using matching gifts or challenge grants to inspire broader participation.
Step 3: Leverage Board Members’ Networks
Major gifts often come from existing relationships rather than cold solicitations. Your board members have connections—but they may need guidance on how to tap into them effectively.
Encourage board members to:
Host small gatherings or cultivation events to introduce donors to your nonprofit.
Identify and qualify potential major donors from their personal and professional circles.
Make introductions and set up meetings for nonprofit staff to steward relationships.
Providing tools like prospect lists, donor profiles, and sample outreach templates can help board members feel confident in making these connections.
Step 4: Keep Board Members Engaged Throughout the Campaign
Board enthusiasm can fade over time if members don’t see progress or feel disconnected from the process. Keep them engaged by:
Providing regular updates on campaign milestones and fundraising progress.
Celebrating successes—big and small—to maintain momentum.
Assigning specific roles to keep each board member involved in a meaningful way.
When board members feel valued and informed, they remain invested in the campaign’s success.
Step 5: Offer Ongoing Support and Recognition
Fundraising is a team effort, and board members need ongoing encouragement to stay motivated. Recognize their contributions by:
Publicly acknowledging their leadership gifts (if they’re comfortable with it).
Providing one-on-one coaching to support their outreach efforts.
Showing appreciation through thank-you notes, special events, or shoutouts at meetings.
Get Your Board Ready for Major Gift Success
At TRANSCEND Advancement, we specialize in board training, campaign strategy, and major gift coaching to help nonprofits run highly successful fundraising campaigns. Whether you’re planning a capital campaign, major gift initiative, or board development program, we provide expert guidance to ensure your board members feel confident, engaged, and ready to lead. Let’s build a high-impact campaign together!
